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Crime scene technician vs latent fingerprint examiner

The differences between crime scene technicians and latent fingerprint examiners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a crime scene technician and a latent fingerprint examiner. Additionally, a crime scene technician has an average salary of $51,741, which is higher than the $46,980 average annual salary of a latent fingerprint examiner.

The top three skills for a crime scene technician include biohazard, demolition and physical evidence. The most important skills for a latent fingerprint examiner are law enforcement agencies, afis, and identification system.

Crime scene technician vs latent fingerprint examiner overview

Crime Scene TechnicianLatent Fingerprint Examiner
Yearly salary$51,741$46,980
Hourly rate$24.88$22.59
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs5,5352,232
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age3838
Years of experience44

Crime scene technician vs latent fingerprint examiner salary

Crime scene technicians and latent fingerprint examiners have different pay scales, as shown below.

Crime Scene TechnicianLatent Fingerprint Examiner
Average salary$51,741$46,980
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $80,000Between $23,000 And $92,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between crime scene technician and latent fingerprint examiner education

There are a few differences between a crime scene technician and a latent fingerprint examiner in terms of educational background:

Crime Scene TechnicianLatent Fingerprint Examiner
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Crime scene technician vs latent fingerprint examiner demographics

Here are the differences between crime scene technicians' and latent fingerprint examiners' demographics:

Crime Scene TechnicianLatent Fingerprint Examiner
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 50.6% Female, 49.4%Male, 37.3% Female, 62.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 10.0% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between crime scene technician and latent fingerprint examiner duties and responsibilities

Crime scene technician example responsibilities.

  • Process crime scenes for fingerprints, DNA (various types), trace evidence, bloodstain pattern analysis, bullet trajectory.
  • Collaborate with federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, KBI and IRS.
  • Check SID numbers in RAS system.
  • Perform enrollment procedures in helping TWs acquire their TWIC card.
  • Require to run NCIC on all persons requesting their weapons return.
  • Produce clear and classify fingerprints for immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship.
  • Show more

Latent fingerprint examiner example responsibilities.

  • Bob provide computer expertise for DOD criminal, fraud, and counterintelligence investigations and analyzing all computer evidence.
  • Process weapons and improvise explosive devices (IEDs) for fingerprints and DNA for a laboratory in Afghanistan.
  • Conduct manual latent to latent and latent to known comparisons in order to determine maker of IED evidence and establish patterns.
  • Water and mold restoration including demolition, moisture and humidity readings.
  • Review and screen results for face and iris searches in the DoD ABIS.
  • Conduct testing of an upgrade ABIS system by documenting and reporting issues with developers.
  • Show more

Crime scene technician vs latent fingerprint examiner skills

Common crime scene technician skills
  • Biohazard, 33%
  • Demolition, 30%
  • Physical Evidence, 13%
  • Crime Scene Investigation, 6%
  • Latent Prints, 3%
  • Crime Lab, 2%
Common latent fingerprint examiner skills
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 18%
  • Afis, 13%
  • Identification System, 8%
  • Fingerprint Cards, 8%
  • Latent Prints, 7%
  • Criminal Justice, 6%

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